Financial/Banking

Lakeland, Fla. – Net earnings at Publix Super Markets slightly increased to $404.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 from $400.1 million in the year-ago period.

Net sales rose about 7% to $7.5 billion from $7 billion, aided by the shift of the Easter holiday to the second quarter of the current fiscal year from the first quarter of the previous fiscal year. Same-store sales rose 6.3%.

The Woodlands, Texas - Conn’s, Inc. has named William E. Saunders Jr. to its board of directors, Saunders will also become a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Saunders has served as CEO of Community Choice Financial since June 2008, after joining the company as its CFO in March 2006. In May 2014, he was appointed as chairman of the board.

Conn’s has appointed William E. Saunders Jr. to its board of directors. Saunders will also become a member of the audit committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee.

Atlanta – Havertys reported essentially flat net income growth in the second quarter of fiscal 2014. Net income was $4.82 million, compared to $4.83 million in the second quarter of the prior fiscal year.

Net sales rose 2.5% to $175.13 million, from $171.11 million. Same-store sales climbed 3.2%.
 

The Bon-Ton Stores has elected Daniel T. Motulsky to its board of directors.

Motulsky was a managing director and global head of consumer & retail of Lazard from 2000 to June 2014, having joined the firm in 1998. Lazard is a global financial advisory and asset management firm that engages in investment banking, asset management and other financial services primarily with institutional clients.

Corpus Christi, Texas -- Susser Holdings Corp. has set a date for a special meeting of its stockholders to consider and vote on the previously announced proposed acquisition of Susser Holdings by Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (ETP) and certain other matters. The special meeting will be held on Aug. 28, at Susser's corporate offices.

York, Pa. -- Daniel T. Motulsky has been named to the board of directors of The Bon Ton Stores Inc., effective Aug. 1. Motulsky, 52, was a managing director and global head of consumer & retail of financial advisory and asset management firm Lazard from 2000 to June 2014, having joined the firm in 1998.

New York -- A report by Bloomberg said that investor BlueCrest Capital Management is urging RadioShack to repay the lenders that are blocking plans to shutter stores.

The electronics retailer announced last March that it would close 1,100 stores; it later reduced the number of closures to 200 per year for three years after negotiations with lenders failed.

BlueCrest said it supported the company's decision to shut stores to stem losses and was willing to provide financing, Bloomberg said.